Open mike 20/04/2024

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, April 20th, 2024 - 95 comments
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For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

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95 comments on “Open mike 20/04/2024 ”

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  1. Ad 1
    20 April 2024 at 8:34 am

    This won't be the last time this Cabinet gets in trouble with the judiciary.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350249617/lawyers-politicians-battle-over-waitangi-tribunals-oranga-tamariki-inquiry

    And the question that will follow will be: will this government simply legislate to eradicate the Waitangi Tribunal?

    After all by wiping out the RMA they've already smashed the guardrails of the entire Environment Court judiciary already.

    Finally our hard right can get to properly targeting the "activist" judiciary in the Appeals and Supreme Court.

    • Traveller 1.1
      20 April 2024 at 9:52 am

      AFAIK the WT is not part of the judiciary. It’s a commission of enquiry, not a court.

    • Drowsy M. Kram 1.2
      20 April 2024 at 11:19 am

      Might inconvenient courts/commissions be fast-tracked for 'fixing'? Time will tell.
      Aotearoa is small, with poverty aplenty. Trust 'our' CoC govt to be fair? That’s a joke sad

  2. Joe90 2
    20 April 2024 at 8:51 am

    In March ACT reckoned school lunch programmes were nothing more than a marketing campaign, with wasteful spending that's verging on criminal, and need to go. A month and a shitty poll later ACT reckons they're the ones that are saving the school lunch programme.

    Wankers

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018928617/healthy-lunches-programme-wasteful-spending-act

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/free-school-lunches-david-seymour-says-the-government-is-saving-the-programme/BGIEYIWJFFHHDCNUV57U2KKUNI/

  3. Joe90 3
    20 April 2024 at 9:20 am

    Brain worms?

    /

    @MonmouthPoll

    NATIONAL POLL: Nearly 1 in 5 Americans (18%) believe @TaylorSwift13 is part of a covert government effort to reelect @POTUS Biden. Among this group, 71% identify with the GOP, 83% are likely to vote for Trump, and 73% believe Biden won 2020 by fraud.

    https://www.monmouth.edu/pollinginstitute/reports/MonmouthPoll_US_021424/

    https://twitter.com/MonmouthPoll/status/1757797491829821651

    • Sanctuary 3.1
      20 April 2024 at 9:48 am

      We just have accept the fact 40% of Americans are objectively disconnected from reality. Exceptionalism, a hyper-partisan and insular media, relentless targeting by brain rotting social media algorithms, deep seated racism, crushing terms and conditions of work and very poor levels of public education combined with a specific American style of paranoia have seen to that.

      • Ad 3.1.1
        20 April 2024 at 9:54 am

        An adventurous president of either party would propose legislation to make the big tech platforms subject to the same broadcasting regulations as tv news, and subject to publishing libel laws.

        It's a clear bipartisan need.

      • Visubversa 3.1.2
        20 April 2024 at 10:03 am

        Not only are they disconnected from reality – they also have guns. Lots of guns.

    • Craig H 3.2
      20 April 2024 at 2:14 pm

      Not sure how covert it is – the elected part of government is always angling for re-election at least for their party members if not themselves in the case of those retiring.

  4. Adrian 4
    20 April 2024 at 10:04 am

    I have a suspicion that the current winnowing out of the public service is nothing more than a pogrom targeting those with an even slightly different political viewpoint to that of the current mal-administration. Admittedly my “ reckon “ is only based on a few short cryptic conversations with a few affected persons, but what if this is really the case? . It would mean that this is a very serious deviation from our history as a fairly benign political climate. Are NactF the real enemy within?

    • Descendant Of Smith 4.1
      20 April 2024 at 10:28 am

      They have always done this through various means while in power.

      Apart from the sheer wastage of money employing the bullshit brigade to state the obvious that public servants have for decades worked to rule for fear of keeping their jobs, one imagines it would be difficult for staff to start believing they no longer needed to keep heads well below parapets.

      For years public servants who have given private voice to a political opinion at variance with government policy, have learned quickly that he or she who dares to speak their mind out loud, doesn't belong.

      https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/columnists/68614620/bowron-going-blue-makes-me-see-red

      And why else would they take on large numbers of new people just before making well forecast cuts if not to replace.

      • Descendant Of Smith 4.1.1
        20 April 2024 at 12:55 pm

        https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2024/04/staff-affected-by-public-sector-job-cuts-slam-leaders-handling-of-announcements.html

        The policy advisor said the ministry had given a stark warning about speaking to media and people were scared about the consequences if they did.

        "We are not waste. How dare you reference us in that way. We are humans. People who worked tirelessly for the ministry – long long hours because, well, that's what we committed to do for you.

        Through a modicum of luck I suspect, none of my family in the public service have yet been affected. Ironically one in the private sector contracting to the public sector has.

        They like many others worked lots of hours during covid and floods often for no extra pay, worked on weekends they normally would not, and so on. This relies on internal good will and a desire to serve the public. The latter won't wane but the former will – governments attacking public service always underestimate how many hours public servants work to get jobs done without expecting more pay. I know how many hours one of my cousins has been working. She has quite clearly said to me she will be cutting back if not just working her hours. Some are learning the hard way that there is no real thanks from your employer for this effort.

        You’re just a number.

    • Anne 4.2
      20 April 2024 at 10:57 am

      " Are NactF the real enemy within?"

      I believe so.

      You only have to look at what the individual public service entities are doing across the board. Its a slash and smash exercise doomed to bring about ultimate failure. You can't cut the heart out of a body and expect it to survive.

      I fear that as each entity agency apart, this government will blame them for the failure and replace them with private corporate entities pliant to their whims and fancies.

      I have become more and more convinced that is the end game.

      • Anne 4.2.1
        20 April 2024 at 11:08 am

        oops… as each agency falls apart,…

      • David 4.2.2
        20 April 2024 at 12:37 pm

        Well they are the government, elected by the people of this country, so I’m not sure how they can be the enemy within.

        • Anne 4.2.2.1
          20 April 2024 at 1:23 pm

          Yeah… 38% voted National 62% didn't. But that's not the point! They are, in actual fact, doing the opposite to what they said they would do. They claimed they were going to solve the health crisis, the education crisis, the economic crisis… military crisis, transport crisis, environmental crisis and social crisis.

          So what do they do? They bash, slash and smash so none of them are going to be fit for purpose. That's not solving crisis' that's accelerating them.

          • David 4.2.2.1.1
            20 April 2024 at 1:46 pm

            If only 38% voted for the government, & 62% did not vote for the government, how is it that we currently have the government we currently have?

            This is the same conversation I had back in 2017, except it was with ardent National & ACT supporters.

            • Anne 4.2.2.1.1.1
              20 April 2024 at 2:42 pm

              Ignore the actual point of my comment if you wish. Not my problem. It's yours.

              • Phillip ure …
                20 April 2024 at 5:07 pm

                Wot Anne said ..

              • David …
                20 April 2024 at 5:08 pm

                Hmm okay, but they are the duly elected government. Every time we have a change of government, one side or the other commences moaning and predicts that the end of the world is coming.

                • Phillip ure …
                  20 April 2024 at 5:28 pm

                  Nah..!..David..

                  This lot are rogernomics redux..

                  They don't give a fuck about hurting the most vulnerable..all in the name of their rightwing ideology…backed by the opportunists that are NZ 1st .

                  And all this heavily laced with racism…

                  They are so ugly…

                  And there is one outcome from this con job they ran during the election campaign..

                  Any campaign for four years terms is dead in the water..

                  • Traveller …
                    20 April 2024 at 5:52 pm

                    Not only are they the duly elected government, as David says, National signalled clearly in advance of the election what they planned. Apart from all of the generalised rhetoric around reducing spending more broadly, there was this:

                    instruct public sector Chief Executives to start identifying back-office savings and report their spending on consultants, 100 Day Action Plan (national.org.nz)

                    Reduce spending on back-office functions in government departments by $594 million per year (less than 0.5 per cent of total government spending) to fund National’s Back Pocket Boost tax relief plan Rebuilding_the_economy.pdf (nationbuilder.com)

                    Soon after the conclusion of the coalition agreement with ACT, David Seymour was talking about 'thousands' of jobs being cut. Thousands of government jobs to be cut, new minister suggests (1news.co.nz)

                    If the government was not following through on this, we'd be accusing them of breaking their promises.

                  • David …
                    21 April 2024 at 10:09 am

                    Phillip, my comment(s) is a reaction to the people who suggest that the government is somehow illegitimate, and that they don’t represent the people.

                    Every time we have a change of government, I’ve had discussions with people who for some reason cannot comprehend that we have elections and governments change.

                    • Phillip ure …
                      21 April 2024 at 10:29 am

                      Of course they have the numbers…but given the opportunist party that is NZ first ..this dilutes somewhat the far-right mandate they claim to have..

                      What is also different this time is that national have lurched to the right..it can now be said that national are act with the mask on..and act are national with the mask off…

                      And so much of what they are doing is so irrational…the trashing of the environment protections arrived at by a consensus between labour/national..is no more..(have we heard from the blue-greens yet…?…their thoughts on this ..

                      And I am not one who believes every national voter wants to trash the environment..and I am sure a portion of their voters are somewhat aghast…at what is proposed…at what is being done..in their name ..

                      All of this is only part of what makes this government different…

                      And arguably without a mandate for much of what is now being done ..

          • Traveller 4.2.2.1.2
            20 April 2024 at 4:53 pm

            This link provides the numbers for the total public sector workforce in NZ from 2000 through 2023. Workforce Data – Workforce size – Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission. This is useful, because it compares the growth in the public sector during the Ardern/Hipkins government with previous National and Labour governments.

            In 2000, at the beginning of the Clark Labour government, the total number of public sector employees in NZ (excluding local government) was 254,971. By 2008, that number had grown by 24% to 60,949. In the 9 years of the Key/English government, the number of employees grew a further 8% to 341,304. Then in just 6 years of the Ardern/Hipkins government, the number of public sector employees grew by 20% to 408,178.

            Between 2001 and 2017, the number of public sector employees grew by 34%, at a time when NZ’s population grew by 23% (New Zealand Population Growth Rate 1950-2024 | MacroTrends). Between 2017 and 2023, the public sector grew by 20%, when population only grew by 10%.

            What is occurring in 2024 is not "bash, slash and smash". It is not a ‘pogrom’ or a ‘winnowing out’. It is a much needed re-balancing of the public sector after a period of poorly targeted expenditure that failed on multiple fronts.

            To quote the headline of this paywalled article Planned cuts to the public service so far won’t even wind back the last six months of expansion – Public Purse – NZ Herald. "Planned cuts to the public service so far won’t even wind back the last six months of expansion.".

            • Phillip ure 4.2.2.1.2.1
              20 April 2024 at 5:58 pm

              Seeing as you have all the facts at your fingertips..

              Could you tell us how much the population grew during those key-years..?

              I guess I am wondering if the public service needed to make up for nine years of not enough to keep up with population growth..from that key gummint…

              • SPC …
                20 April 2024 at 6:05 pm

                4.26 to 4.76M.

              • Traveller …
                20 April 2024 at 6:05 pm

                "I guess I am wondering if the public service needed to make up for nine years of not enough to keep up with population growth..from that key gummint…"

                The population grew by around 11% during the Key years, the public sector grew by 8% (as per above). So let's say the last government had 3% to make up; that doesn't go anywhere near explaining how an increase of double the population growth can be justified.

                • Phillip ure …
                  20 April 2024 at 7:06 pm

                  There are also other factors to consider:

                  So we have that three percent catch-up..but what would also need to be under consideration is changing demands on that public service.. necessitating an increase in staff to answer that demand..

                  I can think of numerous examples of this.. without even trying…

                  And for the case to be made of too rapid expansion…based on the demands of/at 2017…must surely be a nonsense…?

                  So…how many percentage points can we give that undoubted factor..?..the changing/increasing demands on the public service..(7%..?…10%..?)

                  So often just the numbers..nuance free..can provide a distorted picture..can they not..?

                  • Traveller …
                    20 April 2024 at 7:57 pm

                    I would argue that the very idea that the public service should necessarily increase by the same rate as population growth is a nonsense. But parking that, IMHO the main factor to consider is whether the growth in size of the public service led to improved outcomes. There are any number of examples to illustrate this was not the case.

                    1. In education, staff numbers rose by 10% from 2017 through 2023, which matches population growth. Yet education outcomes fell.

                    2. In health, staff numbers rose 29%, nearly three times the rate of population growth. Of course some of that is pandemic related, but the headcount increased by 10% in the 2 years 2022, and 2023, when pandemic related expenditure should have been declining significantly.

                    3. In the 'Public Service' category, staff numbers rose 32%, more than 3x the rate of population growth.

                    I would challenge anyone to show an equivalent increase/improvement in outcomes. There has a lot written about this across a number of sources, but as one example, take FENZ. The Taxpayers Union commissioned a report on the governance of FENZ since its formation in 2017. 240301_cp_report_upinsmoke.pdf (nationbuilder.com) The organisations operating expenditure has gone from $496m in 2018 to $737m in 2023. That's a 49% increase in 5 years. What is particularly concerning is this (I quote the full paragraph for balance):

                    "Management and support staff have increased by 31% over the five-year period from 2017/18 to 2022/23 whilst career firefighters and volunteer numbers have only increased by 5% over the same period. At the time of the merger, management and support FTEs supported 15 career firefighters and volunteers. By 2023, this had reduced to 12 career firefighters and volunteers."

                    In the interests of balance, I quote:

                    "However, there may be justification for some increase in management and support staff. Price Waterhouse Coopers reported that the corporate centre of the predecessor organisation might be too lean, leading to many operational and strategic planning deficiencies."

                    Some, maybe. 31%? And clearly at the expense of frontline staff?

                    • Phillip ure …
                      20 April 2024 at 8:09 pm

                      @traveller..

                      See post of business roundtable report (below)..by d.o.s…

                      Then get back to us…

                    • Descendant Of Smith …
                      20 April 2024 at 8:25 pm

                      In health, staff numbers rose 29%, nearly three times the rate of population growth. Of course some of that is pandemic related, but the headcount increased by 10% in the 2 years 2022, and 2023, when pandemic related expenditure should have been declining significantly.

                      The pandemic isn't over and there is also a rapidly aging population. Hospitals are now having to cope with three main seasonal outbreaks:
                      1. Cold virus
                      2. Influenza virus
                      3. COVID-19 virus (2618 active cases and 152 in hospital as we speak)

                      The lockdown response was to delay spread while capacity was built up in the health system. I would expect there to be more capacity and staffing in the health system now than in 2020 / 2021.

                      COVID demands more resources including ICU (which was massively underbedded when the virus hit). This includes more resources not only in frontline medical but in things like data analytics to monitor and track outbreaks.

                      They also are having to play catch-up to all the operations etc delayed during the pandemic. You cannot do this overnight. It takes a long time.

                      You may think the pandemic is over and things can get back to "normal" pre-pandemic levels – medical professionals and WHO do not.

                  • Traveller …
                    20 April 2024 at 8:21 pm

                    See post of business roundtable report (below)..by d.o.s…

                    Then get back to us…

                    The balls back in DoS's court, Phillip.

                    • Phillip ure …
                      20 April 2024 at 8:52 pm

                      Given as you are given to rely on numbers when making your case .I am kinda puzzled by your studious ignoring of the huge differences in what we pay for our public service..and what the likes of countries like Sweden/Norway pay (i.e.double..).and that we are under the oecd average..

                      And given the above…what is the actual problem here..?

                      After scrutiny..our public service comes out as cost-efficient..

                      ..and those numbers make a mockery of this concerted campaign to not only cut the numbers of employees…but in the process to also demean them as some sort of leech on our society..

                      They do not deserve this treatment ..

                      ..it is just a tissue of ideology -driven lies..

                  • Traveller …
                    20 April 2024 at 9:04 pm

                    "And given the above…what is the actual problem here..?"

                    There are a number of problems:

                    1. There is every possibility the private sector is about to go through a very difficult time (Business journalist Liam Dann warns 30,000 New Zealand jobs could go over coming year | Newshub). It is the private sector that pays for the public service, let's not forget that.

                    2. The public sector growth between 2017 and 2023 has not been matched by corresponding improvements in service. It could be argued some sectors have gone backwards.

                    3. NZ faces structural deficits, that are, at least in part, the result of government spending.

                    4. To the genesis of this conversation (the heroic claims about the changes being made), these are misleading and disturbing to the people you are rightly speaking out for, some of whom are my friends.

                    I don't see any relevance in the overall spending comparisons. The trend in NZ appears to have been away from the frontline to back-office support functions. That needs to change.

                    • Descendant Of Smith …
                      20 April 2024 at 9:18 pm

                      Be interesting what you actually think went backwards. Some things take time to fix eg bulldozing state houses. You can't suddenly magic up state houses.

                      It is the private sector that pays for the public service, let's not forget that.

                      It is circular. Much of the private sector depends on the public sector and would not exist without it. Roading, school builds, housing builds, office cleaning, disability support – all these things were once done within the public service. There is no evidence they are cheaper under the private sector and plenty that they are not – apart from apparently rubbish collection.

                      Benefit expenditure ensures money in the local economy. When Ruth Richardson cut benefits there were about fifty small local businesses went bust over the next six months. Both need each other.

                      The real issue is the accumulation of profit and capital which does not circulate in the economy.

                    • Phillip ure …
                      20 April 2024 at 9:22 pm

                      Number one…you are talking apples and oranges as far as this discussion is concerned..

                      Number two:..that comes across as a reckon by you…not backed up by any evidence..

                      3..and as a result of the failure to introduce capital gains tax/land tax/estate duties etc ..as most other oecd countries have..

                      And am puzzled by your denial of any 'relevance'…that we pay half what Sweden/Norway pay…

                      ..surely this is the case you/the gummint is making..that we have to cut public service numbers..to cut the cost…

                  • Traveller …
                    20 April 2024 at 9:54 pm

                    Number one…you are talking apples and oranges as far as this discussion is concerned..

                    Not so. If the economy is shrinking, and the private sector has to tighten it's belt, so should the public sector. Especially when it has grown so heavily in rceent years.

                    Number two:..that comes across as a reckon by you…not backed up by any evidence..

                    There are ample examples. I've givena couple here https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-20-04-2024/#comment-1997250.

                    3..and as a result of the failure to introduce capital gains tax/land tax/estate duties etc ..as most other oecd countries have..

                    Perhaps. But that was a call Ardern made.

                    And am puzzled by your denial of any 'relevance'…that we pay half what Sweden/Norway pay…..surely this is the case you/the gummint is making..that we have to cut public service numbers..to cut the cost…

                    I don't consider international comparisons to be as relevant. This conversation specifically has been about the OTT reaction to cuts in PS numbers, and how (I have argued) this reaction ignores the rapid rise in PS staffing in recent years, and the poor outcomes achieved.

            • Descendant Of Smith 4.2.2.1.2.2
              20 April 2024 at 7:39 pm

              From a group that isn't normally friendly to the public service the old Business Round Table.

              https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/assets/DirectoryFile/Report-NZ-Initiative-research-note-on-the-size-of-the-Public-Service-workforce.pdf

              From 2017 to 2022 the Public Service grew 27.8% as the Government invested in the capability of the Public Service following unprecedented population growth and with significant additional resources required to support Government’s COVID-19 response. We have provided you and the previous Minister with a number of reports specifically to this growth.

              We agree with the author that international comparisons of Public Service effectiveness show New Zealand to be a high performer. Countries that perform comparably, like Norway and Denmark, spend nearly double as much on their public service per capita compared to New Zealand. In the 2021 OECD Government at a Glance report, NZ’s ‘general government expenditure’ is around US$18,000 per capita, compared with around US$30,000 for Denmark, and US$35,000 for Norway. New Zealand’s spending per capital is also below the OECD average of around US$20,000 and Australian spending of around US$22,000.

              Most of the growth in the Public Service has been in frontline jobs. All our measures of government effectiveness suggest the New Zealand Public Service is among the highest performing public services in the world. The New Zealand Public Service is delivering excellent value for money – the best outcomes and services for New Zealanders. That is what matters. The countries that perform comparably, like Norway and Denmark, spend nearly double as much on their public service per capita compared to New Zealand.

              • Phillip ure …
                20 April 2024 at 7:55 pm

                Nice one..!..(first time I've said that about the business roundtable…those incorrigible lefties..)

                I am looking forward to the answer/mea culpa owed by traveller ..

                I wonder how those numbers are going down..

              • Traveller …
                20 April 2024 at 8:11 pm

                Either you didn't read the document, or you’re being deliberately misleading.

                The document is not written by 'the Old Business Roundtable'.

                The document is a report prepared by the PSC on research conducted by the NZ Initiative.

                The document includes this:

                "we have provided your office talking points and have undertaken detailed review pending any further public discussion."

                These 'talking points' are little more than a series of excuses.

                • Descendant Of Smith …
                  20 April 2024 at 9:02 pm

                  You obviously missed this bit.

                  We agree with the author that international comparisons of Public Service effectiveness show New Zealand to be a high performer.

                  Countries that perform comparably, like Norway and Denmark, spend nearly double as much on their public service per capita compared to New Zealand. In the 2021 OECD Government at a Glance report, NZ’s ‘general government expenditure’ is around US$18,000 per capita, compared with around US$30,000 for Denmark, and US$35,000 for Norway. New Zealand’s spending per capital is also below the OECD average of around US$20,000 and Australian spending of around US$22,000.

                  Much of the rest of the report basically says the public service shrinks under national and grows under Labour and that they are increasing the inhouse capacity and reducing contractors.

                  The point I was making is the the report, by a group who is not friendly to the public service clearly shows NZ public service performing well – not perfect but well.

                  This is pointed out in several places in their report. 2nd highest ranking in Table 7: Civil Service Effectiveness scores by Country in 2019 for instance, 23rd out of 209 in the world bank rankings with a score well above 90.

                  They have always had an obsession about the size and lets not forget that most of them profited off the sale of government activity to themselves. You seem to share the same obsession.

                  • Traveller …
                    20 April 2024 at 9:16 pm

                    I didn't miss anything. You misrepresented the report as being written by the Business Roundtable. You misrepresented the comments you quoted in italics in your comment above as having been written by the Business Roundtable. So, rather than selectively quote from a report you thought you were reading but weren't, here's a link to the report so you can: 801 (nzinitiative.org.nz). In the meantime, here's a taste:

                    "Compared with 2000, or even 2017, tens of billions of dollars more are being spent annually for litle discernible public benefit. Journalist Danyl McLauchlan cites then-Minister of Health, Andrew Litle, as noting that billions more had been spent on health, and that “it did not appear to have made a difference”."

                    "Public Service Commission statistcs show that salaries of “informtion specialists” increased by $380 million, or 85%, between 2017 and 2022. Spending on managerial salaries rose by $429 million or 61%. Spending on policy analysts rose by 55%, at $140 million. By 2022 spending on the salaries of information professionals was double the spending on policy analysts."

                    • Descendant Of Smith …
                      20 April 2024 at 9:32 pm

                      You misrepresented the report as being written by the Business Roundtable.

                      No I didn't. The link was quite clear about who and where I was quoting from. If I had the link to the actual report I would have added it but I had previously read it and knew that there were stats in there that said the public service was good. It is one of the few times I though that they at least had the decency to show the actual international performance ratings.

                      "Public Service Commission statistics show that salaries of “inforomtion specialists” increased by $380 million, or 85%, between 2017 and 2022. Spending on managerial salaries rose by $429 million or 61%. Spending on policy analysts rose by 55%, at $140 million. By 2022 spending on the salaries of information professionals was double the spending on policy analysts."

                      That doesn't mean anything in terms of effectiveness. You think there shouldn't be policy experts or analysts in these days of big data. You think there should be less or are there not enough.

                      One of the interesting aspects of course is that many of those managers have come from the private sector. So do they simply become useless once they join the public service and when they go back do they become wonderful again? Like how does this work – revered one day and scorned the next.

                  • Traveller …
                    20 April 2024 at 9:42 pm

                    "No I didn't. "

                    Now you're being straight out dishonest.

                    You said "From a group that isn't normally friendly to the public service the old Business Round Table."

                    Then you quoted from the talking points written by the PSC.

                    Phillip knew exactly what you were implying when he wrote:

                    "(first time I've said that about the business roundtable…those incorrigible lefties..)"

                    • Descendant Of Smith …
                      20 April 2024 at 10:00 pm

                      I knew what was in my head and what I was referring to. If it came across different that wasn't intended. Again I think it is clear that both myself and the PSC were talking about the information in the original paper when referring to it that says the public service in NZ is efficient and cost effective.

                      I don't think this can be any clearer.

                      We agree with the author that international comparisons of Public Service effectiveness show New Zealand to be a high performer.

                      Growth stuff is really just a red herring. We all know national reduces and Labour increases – that isn't ever going to change.
                      We all know National kicks people off waiting lists and hides the problems and Labour puts them back on. We all know National doesn't need policy experts because they know how to fix everything all by themselves cause they are specially gifted with insight. Policy expertise that disagrees with them is just another version of truth eg bootcamps – there's another expert that will say something different.

                      I'm old enough to see this cycle several times – that's why this stuff about growth is bad is just bullshit. Neither you nor I have any idea what those people are doing, whether it is useful or not.

                  • Traveller …
                    20 April 2024 at 10:33 pm

                    "We agree with the author that international comparisons of Public Service effectiveness show New Zealand to be a high performer."

                    DoS, with all respect you are quoting from the advisory (which contains a number of inaccuracies) without reading the original report.

                    The NZI report contains two appendices that cover this issue, neither of which support the claim made by the briefing from the PSC.

                    Appendix 2, page 26 contains a list of ‘Country scores for Government Effectiveness in 2021’. On that NZ ranks 24th. Figure 6 of the same appendix shows that NZ government effectiveness dropped from 95.7% in 2017 to 92.8% in 2020.

                    Appendix 3 refers to ‘The International Civil Service Effectiveness Index’. That paints a slightly better picture, until we read that this is primarily based on statistics for 2018. In other words, we can't make any conclusion from this about the effectiveness of spending after that.

                    • Descendant Of Smith …
                      21 April 2024 at 8:00 am

                      There's always a delay in gathering that info. All three rate us highly I have no doubt all three will again. Only time will tell.

                      Given the others with data for 2020 and 2021 when the pandemic hit still shows high performance I wouldn't really expect much change. If we drop a couple of places then that is OK. Will be interesting how so few covid-19 deaths and a more than good vaccination program features in that particular index. We may even go from second to first.

              • Traveller …
                20 April 2024 at 8:31 pm

                "The pandemic isn't over and there is also a rapidly aging population. Hospitals are now having to cope with three main seasonal outbreaks:"

                We have had an aging population since before 2017. And those 'seasonal outbreaks' haven't suddenly popped up just because we had a Labour government.

                • Descendant Of Smith …
                  20 April 2024 at 8:40 pm

                  We have had an aging population since before 2017.

                  You realise it is exponential and not flat.

                  Seasonal outbreaks' haven't suddenly popped up just because we had a Labour government.

                  Dick. You well know that COVID happened while Labour was in government and it is on top of other seasonal outbreaks and not instead of.

                  National and ACT of course would have let more people die.

                  • Traveller …
                    20 April 2024 at 8:48 pm

                    "You well know that COVID happened while Labour was in government"

                    I wasn't talking about covid. You mentioned seasonal outbreaks of colds and influenza. They are issues the health system has always had to cope with.

                    • Descendant Of Smith …
                      20 April 2024 at 9:05 pm

                      You're still being a dick. The point of mentioning all three was to remind that they are on top of each other. Everyone knows the other two have been around for ages. I'm not talking to three year olds here where I have to explain every detailed nuance.

                  • Traveller …
                    20 April 2024 at 10:47 pm

                    "Once houses were being built it went into improvement."

                    I'm not sure how you get that impression. In 2017 there were around 5,000 people on the state house waiting list. By December 2023 there were 25,389 (Housing Register – Ministry of Social Development (msd.govt.nz)), and that number had increased by almost 10% over 2022.

                    • Descendant Of Smith …
                      20 April 2024 at 11:00 pm

                      Depends what you are measuring. The waiting list reflects the current market failure position and mass immigration. Also there is likely I suspect still quite a hang-over from weather events who don't have homes. That will take longer to solve methinks. In the meantime.

                      Seventy five per cent fewer households in emergency housing.

                      https://www.hud.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Documents/factsheet-target-8-fewer-people-in-emergency-housing-8april24.pdf

                      An additional 1,000 transitional housing places have been delivered under the Aotearoa New Zealand Homelessness Action Plan.

                      The majority of new transitional housing places (605 out of 1,000) are for families with children and 43 percent are newly constructed homes.

                      Transitional housing is a temporary solution for vulnerable individuals and whānau who otherwise may become homeless.

                      During their stay in transitional housing individuals and whānau receive wrap around support services from Community, Māori and Iwi providers to help them transition into long-term accommodation.

                      https://www.hud.govt.nz/news/1000-more-transitional-housing-places/

                      It is also beyond me why Labour let in so many migrants in the last few years (and so few refugees at the same time)

                  • Traveller …
                    20 April 2024 at 11:35 pm

                    "The waiting list reflects the current market failure position and mass immigration. "

                    I would argue that the failure is not the market. The failure is the planning and regulation that limits the market. The market will meet demand over time if the conditions permit. But it's late, so let's not go down that rabbit hole. My view is that waiting lists for social housing (particularly Priority A) is at least one valid measure of homelessness.

                    "Seventy five per cent fewer households in emergency housing."

                    That is good news, and the credit for that certainly goes to the last government.

                    It is also beyond me why Labour let in so many migrants in the last few years (and so few refugees at the same time)

                    Key did the same – it is (my opinion) a cheats way of boosting growth. The thing that got me about the numbers for 2023 was that it seemed to catch so many people by surprise when it was announced.

              • Traveller …
                20 April 2024 at 8:45 pm

                "I would expect there to be more capacity and staffing in the health system now than in 2020 / 2021."

                Here’s what Workforce Data – Occupation – Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission tells us, under “Occupational share of the Public Service Full-Time Equivalent workforce”.

                In 2017, the Social, Health and Education Workers category totalled 18.1% of the total work force. In 2023, that was 17.2%. In 2017, the Managers category was 11.3% of the workforce. In 2023 it was 12.8%.

                So the proportion of managers went up. But the proportion of front line workers went down.

              • Traveller …
                20 April 2024 at 9:39 pm

                "Be interesting what you actually think went backwards."

                Two examples among many:

                Education.

                System in freefall: why NZ children face education tragedy | The New Zealand Initiative (nzinitiative.org.nz)

                In the four years since the 2018 summits, New Zealand’s education system has deteriorated markedly. New Zealand students no longer receive an education that prepares them for life. Despite – or, perhaps, because of – the Government’s frantic activities to reform the sector, New Zealand has entered a period of unlearning.

                Homelessness

                New Zealand’s homeless have been moved off the streets, but the crisis endures | New Zealand | The Guardian

                • Phillip ure …
                  20 April 2024 at 9:52 pm

                  Re homelessness:

                  Now you are veering into the failures of the ardern gummint…(..which I can bang on about)..

                  And/but are kinda off-topic..as far as this conversation goes..eh..?

                  • Traveller …
                    20 April 2024 at 9:58 pm

                    Actually homelessness is a failure of successive governments. At least the Ardern government acknowledged it. Key's government tried to pretend it didn't exist, IIRR. But it's certainly not off topic. Homelessness is a specific example of an indicator that went backwards, despite the increase in the public service.

                    • Descendant Of Smith …
                      20 April 2024 at 10:08 pm

                      Once houses were being built it went into improvement. There has been a large number of homes built. The first government to do so for a long time.

                      Timeframes planned in 2021 opened in 2023.

                      ​​​​​​​https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/rotorua-housing-housing-minister-megan-woods-opens-42-home-kainga-ora-development-in-pukehangi/LABLIOXGDVDY5EWEXM7V3APV3Y/

                      And here is my point about the private sector also being dependent on the public sector.

                      https://www.waikatotimes.co.nz/nz-news/350084055/kainga-ora-homes-keeping-builders-afloat

                    • Descendant Of Smith …
                      20 April 2024 at 10:24 pm

                      Also because there is no consistency between parties about measuring waiting lists and NZ sucks at measuring unmet need it is almost impossible to measure improvement in this country. In many respects international comparisons are actually much more useful. And whenever there is a real effort to measure across time National cancels it.

                      But those working at the coalface claim the minister is not telling the public:

                      The levels of unmet need are growing unmanageable. The increase in surgeries has not even come close to meeting the demand. Unless a patient's pain is disabling and classified as urgent they no longer get on waiting lists. DHBs are being forced to turn down thousands of needy patients or face financial penalties for not meeting targets.

                      https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9407033/Waiting-list-double-speak

                      In the space of two weeks, funding has ceased for two of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most up-to-date datasets with longitudinal designs.

                      Longitudinal data tells us how people are doing over time, which means checking in with the same individuals and households over time to understand, as an example, how their income or their wellbeing shifts and in response to policy, economic, and other societal changes.

                      At the end of March Stats NZ quietly cancelled the Living in Aotearoa Survey, its own longitudinal data collection effort, aimed at, among other things, measuring persistent income poverty and material hardship. These measurements were required by the Child Poverty Reduction Act, the seminal piece of poverty legislation passed almost universally (bar Act leader David Seymour) in 2018.

                      https://newsroom.co.nz/2024/04/09/poverty-and-inequity-no-data-no-delivery/

                      These are some of those analyst and policy jobs that are apparently a waste of time.

                    • roblogic …
                      20 April 2024 at 10:42 pm

                      National are shite and traitors, but they only got into power because Kiwis were sick of Labour & Ardern's constant failure to make significant progressive reforms, despite all their nice noises and airbrushed photo ops.

                      As @Liquid_Times put it:

                      Does the Labour Party understand the primary reason why they lost the last election? It wasn't Covid, the global economy, co-governance, Atlas or election funding. After 6 years of a Labour govt here's the percentage of Kiwis who want increased govt spending in various areas:

                      New Zealanders want a stronger, more activist government

                      Today’s IPSOS survey report […shows…] proportions of people who want increased spending by government in particular areas:

                      • Healthcare: 83% (and 4% want lower spending)
                      • Public safety: 74% (4% lower)
                      • Education: 71% (5% lower)
                      • Infrastructure: 67% (8% lower)
                      • Reducing poverty and social inequality: 65% (9% lower)
                      • Creating jobs: 55% (7% lower)
                      • Defense and national security: 28% (25% want it lower; 43% want it kept at its current level)

                      Source

    • Dolomedes III 4.3
      20 April 2024 at 1:02 pm

      Everyone has their suspicions. But you admit there's no real evidence of such a "pogrom" (surely an inflammatory word). The government isn't telling departments to "fire that guy", or "get rid of her"; the government is asking for a % reduction in spending, and leaves the specifics up to the heads of departments. And how likely is the kind of targeting you describe, when so many of our institutions have been captured by "progressive" ideologies? Can you imagine Adrien Orr purging progressives from the Reserve Bank? Or Cuddles Coster purging progressives from the police? If you want a clear example of institutional capture, read any document churned out by the Tertiary Education Commission, and you'll find it's laden with the language of DEI.

      • Tony Veitch 4.3.1
        21 April 2024 at 4:50 am

        Cuddles Coster

        You immediately undercut each and every point you attempted to make by using this derogatory name.

  5. joe90 5
    20 April 2024 at 10:47 am

    World Press Photo of the Year:

    Palestinian woman Inas Abu Maamar, 36, embraces the body of her 5-year-old niece Saly, who was killed in an Israeli strike, at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, October 17, 2023.

    https://www.reuters.com/world/reuters-mohammed-salem-wins-2024-world-press-photo-year-award-2024-04-18/

  6. Reality 6
    20 April 2024 at 11:54 am

    A public servant losing their job has said how upsetting it was for Luxon to call those people "waste" and therefore these people should lose their jobs Yes, another tactless, uncaring remark by Luxon. He really has no idea about what to say in these circumstances. Grinning gormlessly around Asia – cringeworthy.

  7. Tabletennis 7
    20 April 2024 at 1:02 pm

    The Biden Admin has just officially abolished Title IX as we knew it. Now, sex = gender identity.
    In a nutshell, the new rewrite means:
    – men can take academic AND athletic scholarships from women
    – men will have FULL access to bathrooms, locker rooms, etc
    – men could be housed in dorm rooms with women
    – students and faculty MUST compel their speech by requiring the use of preferred pronouns

    If the guidelines above are ignored or even questioned, then YOU can be charged with harassment.
    https://twitter.com/riley_gaines_/status/1781330862115610797?s=46

    • SPC 7.1
      20 April 2024 at 1:30 pm

      Places of education.

      In the beginning

      Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities

      The change does not prohibit the exclusion of transgender athletes.

      https://apnews.com/article/title-ix-sexual-assault-transgender-sports-d0fc0ab7515de02b8e4403d0481dc1e7

      The administration stressed that while, writ large, exclusion based on gender identity violated Title IX, the new regulations did not extend to single-sex living facilities or sports teams.

      https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/19/us/politics/biden-title-ix-rules.html

      • Tabletennis 7.1.1
        20 April 2024 at 2:46 pm

        Thanks for that added info SPC, obviously pressure for fair play in women's sport has resulted in some common sense measure.

        "Notably absent from Biden’s policy, however, is any mention of transgender athletes.

        The administration originally planned to include a new policy forbidding schools from enacting outright bans on transgender athletes, but that provision was put on hold. The delay is widely seen as a political maneuver during an election year in which Republicans have rallied around bans on transgender athletes in girls’ sports.

        The administration reiterated that while exclusion from an activity based on gender identity causes harm, the new rule does not extend to single-sex living facilities or sports teams. The Education Department has proposed a second rule dealing with eligibility for sports teams. The Education Department has proposed a second rule dealing with eligibility for sports teams."
        https://archive.ph/D7AFV#selection-7157.472-7161.43

        (inclusive of a spelling mistake: maneuver instead of manoeuvre)

        • joe90 7.1.1.1
          20 April 2024 at 3:55 pm

          The awfulness introduced by tRump's regime prompted the changes.

          .

          WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Education on Friday announced a final rule that will update Title IX regulations governing how schools respond to sexual misconduct, undoing changes made under the Trump administration and former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.

          […]

          This new rule will roll back Title IX changes overseen by DeVos. Those regulations narrowly defined sexual harassment, and directed schools to conduct live hearings to allow those who were accused of sexual harassment or assault to cross-examine their accusers.

          https://www.govexec.com/management/2024/04/biden-administration-roll-back-betsy-devos-title-ix-rules/395928/

            • Tabletennis 7.1.1.1.1.1
              20 April 2024 at 4:31 pm

              Charming indeed. from your link:

              • "Colleges must allow live cross-examination by the ‘representative’ of each party’s choosing. This means survivors can be cross-examined by their rapists’ parents, friends, fraternity brothers or sorority sisters greatly increase the risk of re-traumatization. "

                Very worrying, sounds more like a kangaroo court.
                "And you make me do it." or "but, it was consensual".

  8. SPC 8
    20 April 2024 at 1:59 pm

    The “western” commitment to defend Ukraine from Russia in 2024 is being determined.

    Ukraine is critically dependent on advanced armoury supplies from its Western allies, particularly the US, to be able to continue fighting Russia – a far bigger military force with an abundance of artillery ammunition.

    Ukraine currently has several Patriot systems, but not enough to defend its cities from massive Russian attacks.

    Meanwhile, President Zelensky said … "We need seven more Patriots or similar air defence systems, and it's a minimum number. They can save many lives and really change the situation. You [Nato] have such systems."

    Speaking after the Nato-Ukraine Council summit held by video link, Mr Stoltenberg said: "Nato defence ministers have agreed to step up and provide further military support, including more air defence."

    He said the 32-member bloc "has mapped out existing capabilities across the alliance and there are systems that can be made available to Ukraine".

    "So I expect new announcements on air defence capabilities for Ukraine soon," he added.

    The Nato chief said there were Patriot and other advanced air defence systems available in stocks of Nato countries that could be given to Ukraine – but he gave no details about what exactly Kyiv might get.

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68857046

    After months of delay, the US House of Representatives appears poised to hold a vote on tens of billions of dollars in American military aid for Ukraine and Israel this weekend.

    Mr Johnson's foreign aid proposal provides $60.8bn (£49bn) to Ukraine, $26.4bn to Israel and $8.1bn to the Indo-Pacific region, including Taiwan. The House of Representatives will vote on each component individually, raising the possibility that some components will be approved and others will fail.

    The Speaker is also bringing a fourth piece of legislation to a vote, which includes a requirement that Chinese company ByteDance divest itself of the TikTok social media app, authorising the sale of frozen Russian assets, and imposing new sanctions on Russia, Iran and China.

    Whatever passes will be combined into one bill that will then have to be approved in whole by the Senate before President Joe Biden can sign it into law.

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68848277

  9. Mike the Lefty 9
    20 April 2024 at 4:53 pm

    I keep seeing items on Facebook credited to the Granny Herald saying that Mike Hosking has resigned from Newstalk ZB. Is it true?

  10. Phillip ure 10
    20 April 2024 at 7:42 pm

    Heh..!…I just read one of those psychological profile things ..called the nine marks of the confident introvert..

    And it nailed me..!..in a disturbing number of ways..given as we all like to fancy ourselves as being unique ..

    Mind you..it is kinda reassuring to have a label..

    I should get myself a name-tag..saying 'hi..!..hate small talk..wanna go deep..?'

  11. joe90 11
    20 April 2024 at 7:58 pm

    Well, Dr Cigaretti does have multi-billion dollar tax cuts for landlords and property speculators to fund.

    /

    Prof. Chris Jackson

    @drkiwicj

    The thing about telling hospitals to "live within their means" is that it's govt who decides what those means are. A hiring freeze on doctors and nurses is a political choice.

    Health New Zealand directs hospitals to restrict roles, limit overtime in frontline freeze

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2024/04/health-new-zealand-directs-hospitals-to-restrict-roles-limit-overtime-in-frontline-freeze.html

    https://twitter.com/drkiwicj/status/1781251960978788461

    • Patricia Bremner 11.1
      20 April 2024 at 10:35 pm

      angry "No No, we won't affect Frontline Workers" Liar Liar pants on bloody Fire.

      • Mike the Lefty 11.1.1
        21 April 2024 at 9:31 am

        What National won't (and can't) explain is how the "front line workers" will be able to do their jobs effectively without the admin staff – "the bureaucrats" as National calls them.

        Front line workers depend on their support staff. Support staff do a lot of the donkey work – make the appointments, research the background material, write the correspondence, make sure shifts are covered, make sure the cars are serviced and ready to go, rearrange schedules when someone is sick etc…….

        If front line staff have to start doing this because the NACTZ have sacked the support workers in a binge ideological fervour – it will make the front line workers a whole lot less effective. Front line workers are only as good as their support workers assist them to be, but National never mention that.

        But National's propaganda game is in talking big money numbers in such a way as to make their efforts look more impressive.

        For instance notice how Police Minister Mark Mitchell told media that the police had rejected the latest pay offer even though it was $25 million more than the first one. Note he actually said "a quarter of a billion dollars" because it sounds a whole lot more impressive than if you say "25 million dollars", even though it is exactly the same.

    • bwaghorn 11.2
      21 April 2024 at 7:00 am

      Ban private health care and insurance, then the fuckers will fix new Zealand s health care

    • Ad 11.3
      21 April 2024 at 8:43 am

      But clearly we have too many public servants, and it's bloated because Jacinda hired too many, and they're all unproductive backroom paper shufflers.

  12. Ad 12
    20 April 2024 at 8:24 pm

    Huge shoutout to all those brave workers at the Volkswagen plant in Tennessee who have successfully fought to form a union with the United Auto Workers.

    https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/tennessee-volkswagen-workers-vote-join-uaw-historic-win-union-rcna148656

    One in the eye for VW and great job UAW team and all their supporters!

  13. Morrissey 13
    21 April 2024 at 10:15 am

    “This creature from hell…”
    Israeli ambassador to NZ Ran Jaakoby gets 45 minutes free air time

    Q+A, TVNZ1, Sunday 21 April 2024, 9 a.m.

    Poor old Jack Tame found it hard to hide his disgust. Most of the time he looked troubled, and probably wanted to say more than he was allowed to say in this carefully controlled encounter. Unfortunately for his credibility, Tame kept nodding and saying "mmmmm" as that practiced liar ranted about Iran and said things like "Boats filled with aid are coming from Cyprus…" and "I can't live side by side with this vicious beast" and “Israel is targeting enemies and those enemies happen to be hiding behind civilians…”

    Result: 45 minutes of free, barely interrupted propaganda from Ran Yaakoby; Tame even nodded along as the ambassador repeated the discredited lie about "rapes, gang rapes…"

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  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 19

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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